I initially decided to have my inner labia pierced about two months after getting a vertical hood piercing. My decision was not particularly meaningful: the basis of getting these piercings was that relentless itch to get pierced again, plus my VCH was migrating – I think it was too shallow in the first place - and I knew that I would have to retire it soon. I didn't want to give up that thrill of having genital piercings; that great I've-got-a-secret feeling, so it made sense to me to get some sort of replacement for the VCH. Furthermore, I liked the look of inner labia piercings; research on BME indicated that they were quick to heal and, having found getting my hood pierced painful, but bearable, I was not overly terrified by the idea. Ultimately, I was hoping for a genital project of sorts and this was just the first step.
At A Glance Author A Contact A@bme.anon IAM PrettyHateMachine When Two years ago Artist Vicky Studio Dragon's Location SW Rewind to a Saturday morning in June 2004. I had clung to my rejecting VCH as long as I could, but it was uncomfortable and irritable and I knew that it had to go. I had also decided that the day I said goodbye to my hood piercing would be the day I said hello to my inner labia piercings. With that knowledge, I had a good breakfast, took a long shower and made sure everything was nice and clean down below and put on a modest skirt and some comfortable cotton panties in anticipation of what I was about to do. I phoned ahead to check that the studio was open and to find out how much it would cost, so that I would take enough money with me. Genital piercings are considerably more expensive than others, but thankfully I had spent ages saving for this occasion.
When I arrived at the studio, it was not too busy for a Saturday morning. I spoke to Vicky, who at that stage had not pierced me before, but my usual piercer was not available. I was quite relieved to have a female piercer though, as she would know about female anatomy on a firsthand basis and I found this reassuring. I chose my jewelry – two blue titanium 14g CBRs with an internal diameter of 10mm. In retrospect, I should definitely have chosen a larger gauge, as the 14g jewelry was too thin and caused considerable problems.
Rings in hand, we went through to the piercing room. While Vicky set up the studio and sterilised the jewelry, I took my underwear off, hiked up my skirt and, after Vicky had laid down a fresh disposable paper towel for me to sit on, climbed onto the bed. I was, for all my bravado, terrible nervous. Vicky kept chatting to me and trying to distract me, but through my anxious haze I probably only heard half of what she said. The wait for her to set up seemed agonisingly long, but when she was finished and it was time for me to get pierced it felt like it hadn't been long enough and this little fearful part of my brain kept yelling at me to back out.
However, I didn't back out. Instead, I lay back, as instructed, and dangled my feet off either side of the bed (so as to not to kick the poor piercer). Freshly gloved and with all the necessary instruments neatly laid out on the table next to her, the first thing that Vicky did was wipe my labia and hood with a cleansing swab. As with my hood piercing, I felt a little awkward at having someone survey my genitalia so closely, but I told myself that this was nothing new to her and I had no reason to feel uncomfortable. Vicky looked at the hood piercing and agreed that it did indeed have to go. I hardly felt it as she removed the little SSS curved barbell. Despite the reticence to give up a piercing, that was by far the least painful part of the experience.
The next part of the procedure involved Vicky drawing placement marks on my labia with a sharpie marker. I specifically requested that she place them a little higher up than she usually would have, so as to allow room for a second and even a third pair at a later stage. Ah, I was so ambitious. She acquiesced and drew the marks as I had specified. I checked them and they were perfect.
Now for the clamps – what I thought would be the worst part. I had really hoped, and half-expected, to be one of those women who find the clamps horrible and the needle little more than a quick sting. Turns out, I'm not. First, Vicky clamped my right labium. They felt horribly tight and when she saw me grimacing, as I'm sure I must have, she asked if I wanted her to loosen them slightly. I gratefully accepted. It felt better, even if only fractionally and I tried to relax.
She then showed me the still-sealed needle: shop procedure to assure customers that everything is clean and sterile. She asked me if I was ready and I nodded grimly. By this point I was nervous beyond speaking and just wanted to get it all over and done with. She took the needle out of its packaging, at which point I looked away, focusing intently on a spot on the ceiling. "Now I want you to breathe in deeply and let it out slowly. Do that three times. I'll pierce on the third exhale." Inhale. Exhale. I hoped the first breathe would make me feel a little calmer, but instead it heightened the anticipation. Inhale. Exhale. My heart was racing. Inhale – I filled my lungs until I felt like I was drowning in all that air...
...Exhale. Just as I started to exhale Vicky pushed the needle through. As with my VCH, my legs automatically flew up and I jerked backwards: obviously my body was trying to escape. It hurt. I hurt a lot and the pain didn't subside as fast as I would've liked it to. "I need you to stop pulling away," Vicky instructed me, as she attempted to perform the jewelry transfer. This also hurt. In fact, this also hurt a lot. "Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch." I was nowhere near as obscene as I would've liked to have been: the shock of the pain played havoc on my vocabulary. Then, "Oooh, you're a bleeder!" These were not words that I wanted to hear. "Have you been taking aspirin or drinking alcohol lately?" I shook my head: no. She shrugged, and carried on manoeuvring the CBR into place.
Finally, after a few agonising minutes getting the jewelry in and cleaning up blood, the first side was done. I looked down, and although my labium look angry and a new drop of blood had started leaking from the piercing, I couldn't help but think that it looked really beautiful. However, I also decided that the internal diameter of the CBR was too big and Vicky agreed – she'd pierce the left side with a smaller ring and then change the right, free of charge, in a few weeks.
It was time to psyche myself up for the second piercing. I really didn't know if I could go through with it and, judging by Vicky's concern, she was also starting to doubt my abilities. I knew that I could not leave without getting the other one pierced too, so I asked for a few minutes to compose myself. I closed my eyes and breathed slowly, waiting for the throbbing on the right to subside somewhat. After a few minutes – some peaceful and some spent in an internal 'Should I or shouldn't I?' debate – I was ready.
By this stage, Vicky had put on a new pair of gloves and sterilised a smaller ring. Once again, she showed me the sealed needle and once again it invoked a certain amount of dread, but at least now I knew what to expect. I refocused on my spot on the ceiling, willed my legs to stay down and started breathing. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Slowly, I started blowing the air out of my mouth. In a split-second, somewhere halfway through the exhale, she pierced my left labium, my legs flew up and I pulled away. Again! Yes, it hurt, but no more than the first one. As with the right, this one bled. It was the first and thus far only time that I have ever bled while getting pierced. I cannot account for it, except to say that it's a very vascular area, so I suppose I should have expected some bleeding. The jewelry transfer hurt and, unlike what I had experienced with the hood, the pain did not go away as soon as the jewelry was in. Still, I looked down and I was delighted. Things were a little bloody and painful-looking (and feeling), but I loved the way the two rings looked and that made up for all the discomfort.
After another minute or two of recovery, I gingerly climbed off of the bed. I had not arrived prepared with sanitary pads, but Vicky advised that putting my underwear back on was probably not the best idea. I stuffed my panties into my bag, smoothed my skirt down and waddled out of the piercing room and into the reception area. By then, Marius (he usually pierces me) was back. Vicky told him what we'd just done and he told me that I'm a sucker for punishment. I agreed, but not without a certain amount of pride. Vicky brought me a Coca Cola (my legs were pretty shaky and I think she was concerned that I wouldn't get out of the shop without collapsing) and I paid. We discussed aftercare – sea salt soaks: ¼ tsp sea salt to a cup of hot water, ibuprofen for any swelling and being very kind to my crotch for a while. Once the sugar from the Coke had kicked in and I felt ready to drive myself home, I thanked Vicky again and said goodbye. They laughed as I left the shop, walking like something between a duck and a cowboy, but trying to look very nonchalant about it.
Aftercare was not difficult and rather uneventful, but the healing was slower than I would've liked. I couldn't wear underwear for at least a week, as it was just too horribly uncomfortable. For the first few days the piercings bled sporadically, and stung horrible every time I went to the loo. I perfected the 'gently pat dry' technique. I lived in baggy pants and long skirts (hey, it's a windy city). I slept with a pillow between my legs (definitely recommended), so as to avoid putting pressure on the piercings. The larger ring irritated the right side and I had it changed after 4 weeks. Unfortunately by then the damage was done and there was a small keloid next to the piercing. I retired the right piercing a few months after getting it pierced, frustrated with its general grumpiness and unwillingness to heal. However, the left was better behaved and once it was fully healed I changed to 12g jewelry, which was considerably more comfortable.
It has been almost two years since I had my labia pierced. The left piercing is still there and doing beautifully – I really do love it - and one day, when I'm feeling brave enough, I will have the right side repierced. It was a worthwhile venture and has certainly given me a lot of the knowledge and experience that I will need for taking on my 'project'. I have learnt so much about the technicalities of piercings and my own body, and with hindsight and awareness of the mistakes that I made, as well as the things that worked for me, I am now far more confident about my future modification.